The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-07-07

snare ana Al WIS UoA aiNaNc pie%t'-
ant experience for those personages the
former having 10 nurse and feed with quinine
those who suffered with chills and the lat
Ter 10 look after the comfort of officers and
men. Quinine was used as a free-for-al
remedy in the army Why, the Army Of the
Potomac was run on the quinine principle
for the first year OF two. Please excuse this
digression, but j feel that j am
rNDER OBLIGATIONS TO oUIHNE.
The SQUAD to which was generally as
signed while on picket that Winter was COM
manded by Serg't Jim Lane, Of Munson's
Hill notorety. The post we usually occu-
pied was located NJ the junction of two
roads. one running east and west, the other
coming i'm from the southeast the whole
surrounded by thick growth Of timber. ln
the fork of the roads was a dense thlcket,
and in that thicket the Sergeant always
placed a picket during the night, for from
that position one could watch either road
and not be seen by anyone approaching.
i think Sergt Jim was eminently fitted
for the position he occupied, after he became
accustomed to it, lie seemed TO take espe-
cial pride in the exercise of cool, calculat-
ing judgment, which never failed him. IL
was not always pleasant 10 be called at mid
night and be ordered TO proceed TO some
lonely spot and stand guard, surrounded by
impenetlable darkness and imaginary or
real danger. the mOnotOny occasionally
broken by the twitter of restless bird, the
cry of the opossum or the rustling of bushes
caused, perhaps, 10y the stealthy approach OF
a contraband or an enemy. These are few
of the things which viii make the cold chills
gallop mp and down
TIMID sENTNEL's BACK,
and cause him to mistake a stump or bush
for foe, and alarm the post by firing at ii
and calling for assistance.
One dismal morning, at the hour when
daylight and darkness struggle for the su-
premacy, the writer occupied the post IN the
thicket above mentioned. Ny attention was
attracted by the whstling of some person OF
creature. The sound was repeated so often
that became suspicious of danger. j dare
not leave my position TO reconnoiter, for fear
of being bushwhacked; neither did j think
il safe 10 waken my comrades, who were
sleeping in the leaves few yards away, fear
ing they would laugh at me. The sound
continued at intervals, and always from the
same direction. Finally i crept to the spot
where the boys were sleeping, and, leaning
over Serg't Lane, gently shook him. lie
was awake and alert in an instant. i whis-
pered my suspicious in his ear, and picking
MP his rifle he returned with me to the
thiclzet After listening for several minutes
TO the sound, he said:
"Tm not sure what it is, but I'll soon find
out You keep a close watch while j investi-
gate" and before j could object he started in
the direction of the sound.
The thought flashed through my mind that
he was going to hs death, and mentally said
"GOOd by, Jm;' but a reaction soon took
place, and pulling back
THE HAMMER OF MY RIFLE,
stepped forward a few yards and stood ready
10 protect, as far as possible, my yenturesome
cOmrade. lie soon disappeared from view, and
shortly afterward j heard him answering the
whistle by trying 60 initiate it. Then the Ser
geant and some person in front took part in a
whstling match, which interested me 80 much
that j crept near 10 see the fun.
Presently the sound in front seemed TO come
nearer, aud Jim quietly cooked his rife and
stepped behind tree i was standing some 10
yards back of him, confident he was not aware
of my presence; but il was necessary he should
be, and when il came bis turn TO answer the
signal Whistled. The Sergeant took the hint
and kept quiet. When the party in front re-
piled 10 my signal / repeated il, hoping he
would pass the Sergeant, and then we would
have somebody between two fires. The sound
drew quite near and then ceased. Next i saw
Jim crouch 10 the ground, and felt that
THE CRISIS WAS NEAR.
It would have been a relief If someone had
yelled. lor the suspense was becoming burden.
Suddenly The Sergeant rose 10 his feet, brought
his rifle TO his shoulder, and, speaking in a low
tone, sad:
IF you move III blow your head Off What
do you wantf" and in trembling accents came
the reply:
80 Lo'd sake, Massa, dom shoot a poah mig
ger. rs too done gone ter hurt ye."
j was relieved to hear that the fellow did not
intend 10 harm us.
Show yourself What are you prowling
around fOrl" asked the Sergeant.
"Il-ls you'ns Linkum soger? rs pow
erful harmed" That darky was SO frightened
he suffered.
"Yes I'm Lincoln soldier" replied Jim.
is ye suah oh dat, Massa. is hope yer
don 'ceiye a poah niger"
I'm Union soldier, sure" said Jim.
"Bress De Io'd, honey. Us comin',n and
form appeared from out the darkness
Was that you whistlng out there for the
last hourr" asked the Sergeant.
81 spec IL war, Massa. rs done q power
fnl sight oh whis'lin' this ebenin. Us been
tryin' to tract you'ns sogers tension mos all
night Why j done commenced ter whistle
way back we're more dan mile, bout eleben
O'Clock, an rs been whislin' eber since; but,
bress de LO'd, dis niger has whis'led hisself
smack inter freedom dis time, suah"
Upon questioning the darky we asccrtained
that he belonged 20 planter who lived about
five miles south OF our lines. He had heard Of
our approach, and by the exercise Of cunning
skill
MADE HIS ESCAPE.
Possibly the reader is aware Of the fact that
soldering is a great appetizeT-not only for
fame and glory, hut also for that which will
appease cOrpOrcal hunger. The TatiOns fur
nished us consisted OF hardtack, salt pork or
6OWbclly and coffee. Occasionally the menu
was varicqated with a few beans scattered
recklessly into liberal supply of water, and
boiled until said bean shed It's coat. Again, we
might be- treated 10 pint Of desiccated the
boys called il desccrated v vegetables The
hardtacE was generally as tough as an old boot
leg, aud when fried In pork fat, resembed a
piece Of red-0als bark. The coffee was the best.
but the supply was not always equal 10 the
demand. For these and various other reasons.
we never hcsitaled 10 help ourselves whenever
we got chance 10
SURPRISE OUR sTOMACHs,
and while on picket II not too near the enemy.
was generally the best time TO CARRY out the
surprise program. We used 10 take turns al
fOfaging during the Winter of 1862
One morning after Capt Wilson, who was In
charge OF our part Of the line had visited The
posts and returned 10 his headquarters. Al
Phillips and the writer set out upon visit 10
the natives, armed with all the canteens and
HaNareaglEe t.fs could Eft1